Friction draft gear



Oct. 19 1926. 1,603,355

' v H. c. PRIEBE FRICT'I 0N DRAFT GEAR Filed Sept. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 00. 19 1926. H. C- PRIEBE FRICTION DRAFT GEAR Filed Sept. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III/111',

Patented Get. 19, 1926.

IFFEQE.

HERMAN C. PRIEBE, OF BLUE ISLAND, ILLINOIS.

7f FRIGTIO N DRAFT GEAR.

Application filed September 5, 1825.

My invention relates to friction draft gears employed in coupling cars, the draft gear of my invention being inclusive of a friction block, a follower having an ex- 5 tension lapping said block, a spring interposed between and pressing against the fol lower and said block, and a friction member embracing said follower extension and block and having a portion in frictional en- 1 gagement with said block, this block being interposed between this portion and said follower extension and this follower extension being between and having frictional engage ment with said,friction member and said block.

The invention Will be more fully explained in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view on line 11 of Fig. 2 illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line ll of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is'a perspective view, with parts broken away,

illustrating a friction producing element;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the symmetrically related halves in which one of the followers is preferably formed; and Fig. 8 is a perspective View illustrating the two blocks that preferably are included in the other follower.

The center sills 1 and 2 of the car desirably also consistute the draft sills of the gear. These center sills are formed each with a longitudinal slot 3. The coupler yoke 4 is desirably disposed with its sides in the same vertical plane. Each side of this coupler yoke is formed with a longitudinal slot 5 communicating withthe slot 3 of the adjacent sill. Th coupler stem 6 carries a key 7 that extends transversely of the sills and which passes through the slots 3 and 5. Where the coupler stem and the coupler yoke are in lost motion relation the slots 5 are longer than the width of the key so that the key may move lengthwise of the coupler yoke to a limited extent and may engage one end of each of the slots 5 to move with the coupler yoke. The invention, however, is not to be limited to the lost motion relation of the coupler stem and yoke. The key, by being passed through the center sills as illustrated, takes part in supporting the coupler stem and Serial No. 54,705.

yoke upon and in sliding relation to the sills, the slots 3 being suliiciently long to permit the coupler stem to move longitudinally of the sills throughout its operating range. ll 'here the coupler yoke and coupler stein are in lost motion relation the inner follower 8 moves with the coupler yoke, the inward motion of the yoke and of this follower being limited by the draft lugs or stops 9 which are carried by the center sills and engage the inner end of the yoke for this purpose. Two friction blocks 10 and 11 are movable longitudinally with the outer follower plate 12 and move thereon transversely of the line of draft. The outward movement of the outer follower is limited by the draft lugs or stops 13 that are secured to the center sills and which are engageable by the follower plate 12. The friction block 10 is formed with wedging faces 14,- and 15 that are symmetrically related with wedging faces 16 and 17 formed on the friction block 11, the opposed wedging surfaces being upon the inner longitudinal faces of said blocks and converging outwardly. A friction member 18 surrounds the friction blocks 10 and 11 and has a central longitudinal rib formation that is inclusive of friction wedges 19 and 20, the

wedge 19 being interposed between and having its wedging sides sloping similarly to the wedging faces 14 and 16 of the blocks 10 and 11, while the wedge 20 is interposed between and has its wedging sides sloping similarly to the wedging faces 15 and 17 of said blocks.

The other follower 8, as illustrated, is desirably made in two symmetrically related halves, each half of the follower having a longitudinal extension 21, these extensions lapping the friction blocks 10 and 11 that are interposed therebetween, the two halves of this, follower and its extensions 21 con stituting a spring barrel for receiving the draft gear spring or springs 22, this draft gear spring having its inner end in engagement with the. end wall of the spring barrel and its outer end in engagement with the plate 23 that abuts against the inner ends of the friction bloc {s 10 and 11. The outer ends of the friction extensions 21 are sandwiched between the encompassing friction member 18 and the follower blocks 10 and 11, these friction blocks, in turn, being sandwiched between the central wedging formations 19 and 20 and the follower extensions 21. The surrounding portion of the friction member 18 so assembles the parts enclosed thereby as to constrain the production of motion retarding friction to supplement the action of the spring.

When the draft gear is subject to inward coupler thrusts, the follower plate 12 is moved inwardly together with the friction blocks 10 and 11 and if the coupler thrusts are of suflicient force, said friction blocks are moved sufliciently inwardly to engage the wedges 19 and 21). During the movement of the friction blocks 10 and 11 into engagement with the wedges 19 and 20, the spring 22 alone mainly resists the inward movement of the coupler, the gear then acting as a simple spring gear. if the friction blocks 10 and 11 are moved inwardly further after engaging the wedges 19 and 20, fric tion arises which supplements the action of the spring in resisting inward coupler movement. This friction arises at the contact ing wedging surfaces of the friction blocks 10 and 11 and the wedges interposed therebetween, the contacting surfaces of the friction blocks 10 and 11 and the follower extensions 21, and the contacting surfaces of the friction member 18 and said'follower extensions. As a consequence of the inward movement of the coupler, the inner ends of the wedging blocks 10 and 11 are thrust inwardly slightly beyond the inner trans verse end face of the friction member 18. hen the gear is relieved of draft strain sufiiciently, the spring 22 will push the blocks 10 and 11 outwardly sufficiently to establish the illustrated clearance between the friction blocks 10 and 11 with respect to the wedges 19 and 20 interposed therebetween. If the coupler should be sub jeet to draft pull of sutiicient force, results previously described will occur as will be apparent.

For convenience in storage and shipment the friction member 18 is desirably formed with a pair of eyes 24: and the follower extensions 21 with another pair of eyes 25. Hooking members 26 engage the eyes and hold the friction member 18 in assembly with the follower that has the extensions 21.

Qhanges may be made without departing from the invention.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new 1. A friction draft gear including two friction blocks; a follower having extensions lapping said blocks that are interposed between these extensions; a spring between said extensions and engageable at one end with said follower and at the other end with the aforesaid blocks; and a friction member embracing said follower extensions and having a central portion interposed between and in frictional engagement with said blocks, said follower extensions being be tween and having frictional engagement with said friction member and said blocks.

A friction draft gear including a friction blocl: movable longitudinally and transversely of the line of draft; a follower having an extension lapping said block; a spring "nerposed between and pressing against the follower and said block; and a friction memher embracing said follower extension and and having a wedging portion in n ing engagen'ient with said block, this block being interposed between this we lging portion and said follower extension and this follower extension being between and having frictional engagement with said friction member and said block.

3. A friction draft gear including a friction block; a follower having an extension lapping said block; a spring interposed between and pressing against the follower and said block; and a friction member en'ibracing said follower extension and block and having a portion in wedging engagement with said block, this block being interposed between this portion and said follower extension and this follower extension being be tween and having frictional engagement with said friction member and said block.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

HERMAN C. PRIEBE. 

